1
: a solution or bath for preserving or cleaning: such as
a
: a brine or vinegar solution in which foods are preserved
b
: any of various baths used in industrial cleaning or processing
2
: a difficult situation : plight
could see no way out of the pickle I was in—
R. L. Stevenson
R. L. Stevenson3
: an article of food that has been preserved in brine or in vinegar
specifically
: a cucumber that has been so preserved
pickled; pickling
ˈpi-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle
2
: to give a light finish to (something, such as furniture) by bleaching or painting and wiping
Synonyms
Examples of pickle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebAnn Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Glass: Bottles and jars, including wine, beer and soda bottles, pickle jars and similar.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The clip shows the pair goofing around together, playing pickle ball and high-fiving each other.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The most popular menu items are a Righteous Chicken biscuit with fried chicken brined in buttermilk, pickles and sauce; a Southern chicken biscuit with pimiento cheese and bacon; and the ubiquitous Nashville hot chicken biscuit.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2024
Milpitas residents are in a pickle over whether the city should keep operating its Hall Memorial Park pickleball courts.
—Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
Portillo’s all-beef Chicago hot dog is a 60-year legacy, topped with tomatoes, onions, sport peppers, pickle, mustard and relish.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2024
Popcorn, pickles, pretzels, mixed nuts, potato chips, olives and toasted corn kernels.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2024
Panko crusted chicken tender box with crispy panko tenders, pickle slaw, King’s Hawaiian roll, Gonzo sauce, bread and butter pickles and crinkle cut fries.
—Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
Bonnie S. Benwick, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Red Onions Great for: Salads, grilling, charring, roasting, pickling
Vibrant in color and among the sharpest and spiciest of all the types of onions, red onions are often featured in recipes in their raw form.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2023
Behind a striking open kitchen covered in textured ceramic tiles, a host of cooks were gearing up for lunch service every morning by preparing cuts of fresh fish, or slicing and pickling vegetables.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
Traditional Romanian cooking is a collision of Balkan, Ottoman, and Mediterranean influences—soft cheeses, spiced meats, mountains of fresh green herbs, a vivid tradition of pickling and curing—both lush and straightforward.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024
Their vibrant pink color comes from pickling in a beet juice mixture overnight.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2024
Executive chef Ken Arneson said his favorite dish is the birria braised oxtails, house pickled vegetables and grilled Noble bread.
—Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Jan. 2024
Sauerkraut, carrots, cucumbers and celery are just a few of the foods that can be pickled.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024
These cakes can be found beginning in early January and are available up until Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.
Fish: Seared, pickled, and more
Fish signifies abundance, and is a sign of prosperity, and is consumed by many different cultures around the world during new year celebrations.
—USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2024
Noun
Combine ingredients: Stir together grated shallot, mayonnaise, pickles, pickle juice, and pepper in a medium bowl.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Glass: Bottles and jars, including wine, beer and soda bottles, pickle jars and similar.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The clip shows the pair goofing around together, playing pickle ball and high-fiving each other.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The most popular menu items are a Righteous Chicken biscuit with fried chicken brined in buttermilk, pickles and sauce; a Southern chicken biscuit with pimiento cheese and bacon; and the ubiquitous Nashville hot chicken biscuit.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2024
Milpitas residents are in a pickle over whether the city should keep operating its Hall Memorial Park pickleball courts.
—Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024
Portillo’s all-beef Chicago hot dog is a 60-year legacy, topped with tomatoes, onions, sport peppers, pickle, mustard and relish.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2024
Popcorn, pickles, pretzels, mixed nuts, potato chips, olives and toasted corn kernels.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2024
Panko crusted chicken tender box with crispy panko tenders, pickle slaw, King’s Hawaiian roll, Gonzo sauce, bread and butter pickles and crinkle cut fries.
—Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
Verb
Pour the pickling liquid over them, making sure they are submerged.
—Bonnie S. Benwick, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Red Onions Great for: Salads, grilling, charring, roasting, pickling
Vibrant in color and among the sharpest and spiciest of all the types of onions, red onions are often featured in recipes in their raw form.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2023
Behind a striking open kitchen covered in textured ceramic tiles, a host of cooks were gearing up for lunch service every morning by preparing cuts of fresh fish, or slicing and pickling vegetables.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
Traditional Romanian cooking is a collision of Balkan, Ottoman, and Mediterranean influences—soft cheeses, spiced meats, mountains of fresh green herbs, a vivid tradition of pickling and curing—both lush and straightforward.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024
Their vibrant pink color comes from pickling in a beet juice mixture overnight.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2024
Executive chef Ken Arneson said his favorite dish is the birria braised oxtails, house pickled vegetables and grilled Noble bread.
—Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Jan. 2024
Sauerkraut, carrots, cucumbers and celery are just a few of the foods that can be pickled.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024
These cakes can be found beginning in early January and are available up until Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent.
Fish: Seared, pickled, and more
Fish signifies abundance, and is a sign of prosperity, and is consumed by many different cultures around the world during new year celebrations.
—USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pickle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickle. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pickle
2 of 2 verb
pickled; pickling
ˈpik-(ə-)liŋ
: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle
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